John B. Davis was my great-great grandfather. He was born in Cornwall, England, and immigrated to the United States about 1850. On April 7, 1913, he committed suicide by hanging himself under the floor of his barn. One newspaper stated it was his despondency over ill health that drove him to this drastic action; another newspaper said he had a cold. Family lore says he was not happy over sons' drinking. Whatever the reason, he hung himself in the oddest place and it does not read as a quick death.
Here is the inquest determination/obituary for John B. Davis, … [Read more...]